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And of course Kira would know exactly why he didn’t want her there

Jordan turned away froh not very well Hell, they had worked for the saency in the same line of work Except Catherine hadn’t survived it, because of him Because he hadn’t been able to protect her and the unborn child she and her husband had drea Because she had been a close friend, and when she had placed herself in a situation he hadn’t been prepared, he’d dropped the ball

“I never said she was Catherine,” he stated coldly “I said we’re not an orphanage Bringing her in would be a risk”

“But you’ll bring her in,” she deh respect that he couldn’t deny the request out of pride

Jordan sighed heavily The knowledge of the debt he owed Kira, her husband Ian, and her Ian’s SEAL team was never lost on him either

Together, they had saved his nephew, dragged him out of hell and even noorked to heal the wounds inflicted on Noah’s soul

Besides that, there was also the fact that they were a working unit now Elite Operations and its backup tea a wrench in the works over their choice of a base member wasn’t in his best interests

It was the girl in question though, and the risk she posed, not so much to the unit, but to his own self control

“Bring her in” He heard his voice harden and he knew that the fact that he didn’t agree with the choice wouldn’t be lost on Kira

“That’s all I needed” Satisfaction filled her voice, and when he turned to look at her, he saw the aray eyes

“This is a er was slipping past his careful control

She stared back at him, her lips q

uirking as an unholy gleaet hard for her? Think of it this way, Jordan, she’ll add a little spice to your life” Despite the flippancy in her tone, understanding filled her gaze

“I don’t need spice in my life”

“Soain,” she said gently “You’re like Nathan, almost dead inside Catherine wouldn’t have wanted that for you, and I know Killian doesn’t She was your friend, Jordan, not your albatross”

As he watched her walk away he felt the fae that even Kira didn’t know the truth

He was the reason Catherine was dead And he would never let hiet that Because of it, he refused to involve hients

He was their commander He wasn’t their friend

He turned back to the tayrooain He had let her into the Ops, but he would never let her into his bed, or into his life

And he swore he would never let her into his heart

Six Years Later

“Evenin’ Da”

Riordan Malone Sr looked up froers caressing the sun-warh he could reach the woman fate had taken from him so many decades before